Excerpt from INeedAHoliday:

When planning a trip of wine tasting and farms through the Hudson Valley there is really only one rule: Do NOT drink wine the night before!  Fail.  Needless to say, the initial two hour drive from New York City wasn’t much fun for my wife and dog, but as we hit more vineyards and saw more crazy “farm stuff” you naturally begin to feel better.  “THE HUDSON VALLEY – IT’S BETTER THAN GATORADE!”

Our first stop is Dressel Farms, near New Paltz known for their apple picking and homemade donuts.  The biggest hit was watching our dog (mini-dachshund known as “hotdog”) go through grass piles.  She acted as if this was the first grass pile she had ever seen.  Actually this is true.  In fact it is only about the third time she has seen grass.  She is 100% city dog!

The first official vineyard stop was Robibero Family Vineyard, a sprawling vineyard complete with an elevated tasting room overlooking the many acres.  Good white wine.  Purchased three bottles.   The next stop was Adair Winery, a winery with tastings in a large red barn just off hwy 30.  Okay white wine.  Purchased two bottles.  For most of the trip radio station 101.5 was counting down the 1015 greatest rock songs.  A lot of Van Halen and that strange lineup that happens with countdown shows of The Ramones followed by The Steve Miller Band followed by The Beatles.  Also, I’m pretty sure “Wild Horses” by The Rolling Stones was played multiple times.  After a quick stop at McDonald’s for cheeseburgers and chicken wraps we headed South on hwy 30 and stopped at Palaia Winery.  If you ever wanted to taste wine with lesbian hippies straight from the sixties THIS is the place!  Average white wine.  Purchased two bottles.    Next we headed to the Bed and Breakfast, located in Warwick.

Read the full narrative at IneedAHoliday.com

David S. Grant is the author of several books including Corporate Porn, The Last Breakfast, and Happy Hour.  His new novel, BLOOD: The New Red will be available in the fall.  David lives and works in New York City.  For more information go to www.davidsgrant.com. Follow David on Twitter: .david_s_grant.